How can one person's strength withstand a behemoth like the Rocket Team?
Moreover, the Gambler is nothing but an elderly man who understands destiny.
[You count the "chips" you have, realizing they are pathetically few, and none of them is enough to let you turn the tables.]
[You heave a sigh.]
The Gambler falls silent.
But Baimu thinks this guy will never easily resign to his fate.
To use several one-hit kill Techniques as support when challenging a Gym and to ultimately succeed in earning eight badges proves his heart is filled with a fiery passion.
Since that's the case, how will the Gambler extricate himself?
Baimu watches the screen expectantly.
Forced to work for an evil organization, the opponent's living environment may not be as oppressive as in Pyrite Town, but the Rocket Team's madness is no less than that of the Quicksand Team.
He is eager to know the Gambler's future life.
In the picture.
The Gambler faces two Pokémon, opening his arms wide.
[You welcomed back the Krabby and Diglett whom you entrusted to the Rocket Team Breeder to raise their levels.]
[Your Krabby evolved into Kingler.]
[Your Diglett evolved into Dugtrio.]
Under the diligent efforts of the Rocket Team Breeder, Kingler and Dugtrio's energy levels were raised to a sufficient extent, enough to handle most battles.
Yet, as the only two young Pokémon among the elderly troupe of the Gambler, their long detachment from a Trainer meant they couldn't immediately rekindle their connection.
So.
The Gambler declined a series of subsequent shows and announcements under the pretense of needing to hone his synergy with his Pokémon for a good performance at the Quartz Conference.
The Rocket Team seemed to think his popularity was nearing its peak and didn't continue to exploit his remaining value.
They knew that the last wave of profit would come during the Quartz Conference.
The Gambler obtained a certain degree of freedom.
[You got back on the journey, though with the company of a Rocket Team member.]
Freed from the complex announcements, the first thing the Gambler did was pick up his grandson, applying to the Rocket Team for funds to take his grandson and all his Pokémon to every city he had visited before.
Initially, the Rocket Team didn't allow him to do so; after all, it was supposed to be about honing with Pokémon, so why start a journey?
And at this moment.
The Gambler displayed appropriate firmness.
[You know that the investment the Rocket Team has in you now is enough for them to agree to some not-so-excessive requests.]
Indeed.
Just as the Gambler thought, the Rocket Team's higher-ups agreed and even allocated travel funds.
He was not overly joyous, however, realizing even more deeply that the Rocket Team would inevitably discard him when he's no longer useful, which is why they so readily spent the money now.
Previously, the Gambler didn't receive a dime from the earnings he made.
[Your grandson doesn't know about your perilous situation; he's simply happy about your renowned reputation and excited about the journey ahead.]
The Gambler took his grandson and his troupe of elderly Pokémon across all the cities in Kanto, greeting the Gym Leaders who had given him badges.
During this time, Kingler and Dugtrio gradually returned to the feeling of being with the Gambler from the start, deepening their bond.
Unconsciously.
Upon reaching Kuye City, the Quartz Conference quietly began.
[You were forcibly taken away by Rocket Team people, and your grandson was forcibly detained under the pretext of being watched over.]
Preliminaries.
Undoubtedly, even a small preliminary tournament was a significant test requiring full effort for the Gambler, who relied on one-hit kill Techniques.
But luckily, after such a long period of Pokémon breeding, although the Gambler might still be quite awkward with other Techniques and strategies, he wasn't completely clueless.
With this, he succeeded in using Rhydon as his core, defeating his opponent with Earth Split and Horn Drill even after losing a Grand General, Dewgong, on his side.
The little girl, who seemed just a bit older than his grandson, ran away in tears immediately.
[You successfully defeated your opponent.]
[You look at the little girl's back and can't help but sigh, for although it wasn't your intention, you did ruin a young person's dream.]
Three rounds of preliminaries.
As if the nearly a year without gambling caused his luck to explode, the Gambler passed through smoothly.
In a blink of an eye, he arrived at the initial selection round of the top sixty-four.
Baimu deeply understood that the path ahead would become increasingly challenging and couldn't help but hold his breath as he watched.
Advancement to the top thirty-two.
Those who broke through the preliminaries are the elite Trainers, not only having high average Pokémon levels but also rich battle experience.
The Gambler's first-round opponent seemed to have seen through his strategy, letting their Pokémon use high evasion and high mobility Techniques throughout to dodge one-hit kill Techniques while creating effective damage.
However.
As if highlighting the saying that no matter how brilliant a strategy, it can't compare to sheer luck.
The Gambler, with only a Machamp remaining, succeeded in taking down his opponent with three Earth Splits, driving the entire audience into a frenzy.
[You bask in the cheers of the crowd, feeling an unprecedented joy reverberating in your heart.]
The Gambler is by no means a psychological pervert who derives pleasure from destroying young people's dreams, but it doesn't stop him from feeling pleased about his victory.
Machamp felt the same way.
Having worked for the Rocket Team for most of its life, it was even worse than a corporate slave, never having experienced such a glorious moment.
[You look at the excitedly roaring Machamp in front of you and can't help but shout as well, for this hard-earned victory.]